Margaret Pokiak-Fenton facts for kids

Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton (born June 7, 1936 – died April 21, 2021) was an Inuvialuit author. She wrote important children's books and was a "story keeper." She also survived the residential school system.

Margaret's Early Life and School Experience

Margaret Pokiak was born on June 7, 1936, on Baillie Island in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Her family often traveled to Banks Island for winter hunting. As a child, she learned many important skills like driving a dog-sled and hunting. She also regularly traveled on a schooner to get supplies.

When Margaret was eight years old, she went to Aklavik. This was a fur trading settlement started by her great-grandfather. She went there to attend the Immaculate Conception residential school, which was run by the Roman Catholic Church.

Why Margaret Wanted to Go to School

Margaret really wanted to learn how to read. She begged to go to the school, even though it had a bad reputation. Her book Fatty Legs shares this experience. It shows how eager she was to learn, even with the difficult atmosphere at these schools.

After Margaret entered residential school, she did not see her parents for two years. In an interview, she shared that during those two years, she forgot her language, her traditional food, and "everything." When she finally returned home, she could no longer talk with her mother because her mother did not speak English.

Life After Residential School

After two years of schooling, Margaret moved back to her family, who were then in Tuktoyaktuk. Even though her time at the Immaculate Conception residential school was hard, she later returned to school to support her younger sisters.

Later, she started working for the Hudson's Bay Company. In Tuktoyaktuk, she also met Lyle Fenton, who would become her husband. Lyle was working on the DEW Line Project. They moved together to Fort St. John, British Columbia, where they raised their eight children.

Margaret Pokiak-Fenton was well-known at the farmers' market in Fort St. John. She was famous for her beautiful beadwork, embroidery, and delicious bannock. Her first book, Fatty Legs, was initially sold only at this market.

Sharing Her Story

For many years, Margaret did not talk about her experiences in residential school. However, after writing Fatty Legs, she began to share more. Her daughter-in-law, Christy Jordan-Fenton, encouraged her. Margaret wanted her grandchildren and other children to learn the truth about what happened in these schools.

When Margaret wrote her first book and started speaking at schools and libraries, many people in Canada did not know much about residential schools. Her stories helped to teach them.

Returning to Her Roots

At the age of 80, Margaret returned to using her birth name, Olemaun. Olemaun means "the stone that sharpens an ulu knife." Margaret had started using the name Margaret as a child. She felt disconnected from her culture because of the forced changes at the residential school. Her daughter-in-law shared that Margaret received a traditional caribou tattoo when she was 81.

Margaret Pokiak-Fenton passed away on April 21, 2021.

Margaret's Writing Career

Margaret Pokiak-Fenton wrote several books with her daughter-in-law, Christy Jordan-Fenton. Her stories explained the difficult experiences of the residential school system in a way that young readers could understand. Her books also shared what it was like to live in the northern parts of Canada.

Margaret and Christy traveled all over Canada, and even visited the United States and Cuba. They made about 100 visits to schools and libraries each year to share the story of residential schools.

Why Her Books Are Important

At first, Margaret was hesitant to write and talk about her residential school experiences. But sharing her story of hardship, loss of culture, and strength became very important to her. Her work is special because stories for children about residential schools, written by survivors, were very rare.

In many interviews, she explained that many survivors find it hard to talk about their experiences. She once said: "So many of them have problems that they put out of their mind... But then my book gave a lot of people a chance for hope." Her writing became a key way to teach children. Her books are now used in many lesson plans in elementary schools.

Margaret Pokiak-Fenton's books are often on recommended reading lists. They are especially important for understanding the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. All four of her books were included in a list of 48 titles chosen by writer David A. Robertson. This list was featured on the CBC website after a discovery at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Awards and Honours for Her Books

Margaret Pokiak-Fenton's books have received many awards and recognitions.

• Fatty Legs was named one of the ten best children's books of the year by The Globe and Mail in 2011.
• The Ontario Library Association included A Stranger At Home on their annual Best Bets List.
• The Canadian Toy Testing Council and TD Summer Reading Club recommended When I Was Eight.
• The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature named Not My Girl one of the best multicultural children's books of 2014.
• All four of her books—Fatty Legs, A Stranger at Home, When I Was Eight, and Not My Girl—have been named some of the best books for kids and teens by the Canadian Children's Book Centre.

Images for kids

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  Pokiak-Fenton's community of the Inuvialuit settlement region.